Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39342189›Full record

ArticleBMC primary care2024

Care needs of patients with the post-COVID syndrome in Dutch general practice: an interview study among patients and general practitioners.

Corinne Rijpkema, Bart J Knottnerus, Rinske van den Hoek, Lisa Bosman, Liset van Dijk, Robert A Verheij, Isabelle Bos

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC primary care, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Corinne Rijpkema *Nivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Otterstraat 118, Utrecht, 3513CR, The Netherlands. c.rijpkema@nivel.nl.
Bart J Knottnerus *Nivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Otterstraat 118, Utrecht, 3513CR, The Netherlands.
Rinske van den HoekNivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Otterstraat 118, Utrecht, 3513CR, The Netherlands.
Lisa BosmanNivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Otterstraat 118, Utrecht, 3513CR, The Netherlands.
Liset van DijkNivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Otterstraat 118, Utrecht, 3513CR, The Netherlands.
Robert A VerheijNivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Otterstraat 118, Utrecht, 3513CR, The Netherlands.
Isabelle BosNivel, Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research, Otterstraat 118, Utrecht, 3513CR, The Netherlands.

Funding

ZonMw 10430302110004
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe post-COVID syndrome (PCS) has a large impact on an individual's daily life. The wide variety of symptoms in PCS patients and the fact that it is still relatively new makes it difficult for general practitioners (GPs) to recognize, diagnose and treat patients with PCS, leading to difficulties in assessing and fulfilling healthcare needs. It is largely unknown what the experiences of Dutch patients and GPs are with PCS and, therefore, we gained insight into the different aspects of living with PCS and the associated healthcare needs.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were performed with 13 self-reported PCS patients (varying in sex, age, education, and health literacy) and 6 GPs (varying in gender, age, and type of practice) between January-July 2022. Patients and GPs were most likely unrelated (not in the same practices). The data have been analysed using the Thematic Analysis method.

resultsExperiences appeared to vary between two types of PCS patients that emerged during the interviews: (1) individuals with good pre-existing health status (PEHS) who are severely affected by PCS and have difficulty recovering and (2) individuals with poorer PEHS whose health became even poorer after COVID-19 infection. The interviews with PCS patients and GPs revealed two main themes, in which the types of patients differed: (1) aspects of living with PCS; individuals with good PEHS mainly experience symptoms when overstimulated, while individuals with poorer PEHS generally feel exhausted continuously. (2) Healthcare experiences; GPs emphasized that individuals with good PEHS seem to benefit from support in distributing their energy by careful planning of daily activities, whereas individuals with poorer PEHS require support in activation. Patients and GPs emphasised the importance of taking patients seriously and acknowledging their symptoms. Finally, the patients interviewed indicated that some GPs doubted the existence of PCS, resulting in insufficient recognition.

conclusionAwareness of the differences in needs and experiences of the two types of PCS patients could contribute to more appropriate care. Acknowledgement of PCS by GPs as a real syndrome is important for patients and plays an important role in coping with or recovering from PCS. A multidisciplinary person-centred approach is important and can be coordinated by a GP.

Indexed as

COVID-19General PracticeGeneral PractitionersAdultAgedFemaleHealth Services Needs and DemandHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsPost-Acute COVID-19 SyndromeQualitative ResearchSARS-CoV-2Appropriate careCare continuityCOVID-19General practicePatient experiencesPost-COVID syndromeQualitative research

Identifiers

PMID39342189
PMCPMC11439229

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.